Astrid Seriese - Eclipse

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:37
Size: 141,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:26)  1. Eclipse
(3:35)  2. Yesterday Is Here
(2:54)  3. Roll With My Baby
(5:06)  4. Calling You
(3:33)  5. Tender as a Rose
(4:09)  6. I'm a Stranger Here Myself
(5:49)  7. Kloptiklokbop
(4:17)  8. Meantime
(3:35)  9. Only Women Bleed
(3:30) 10. Throw It Away
(3:41) 11. Oughta Be a Woman
(5:45) 12. A Child Is Born
(1:57) 13. Little Boy Blue
(5:19) 14. Celona Bar
(3:54) 15. We Believed in Love

Astrid Seriese ( The Hague , February 26 1957 ) is a Dutch jazz singer, actress and singing teacher . Seriese was born as the daughter of an Indian mother and a Dutch father as the youngest in a family of five children. After grammar school she attended initial training at the Conservatory in Amsterdam and the Academy for Cabaret in the same place. After a few years they stopped the conservatory.  In 1985 she sang-with Mathilde Santing and Julya Lo'ko - in the Dutch team at the Knokke Song Contest . She then formed a duo with Nedly Morales . In 1987 followed her acting debut in the Dutch film Blonde Dolly . 

The years that she performed in several theater productions and toured Europe. In Britain it was in 1991 on the BBC to see if player / singer in the musical television production "M is for Man, Music, Mozart" with video of Peter Greenaway and music of Louis Andriessen . (In the Netherlands broadcast by the AVRO .)  In 1992, she sings along in Fausto, the opera composer Harry de Wit . In 1993 her debut album came out showing crafted covers to hear. "Eclipse" The album is well received in the Netherlands. After a theater tour appeared in 1994 her second solo album "Secret World". Together with Peter Meuris Seriese composed the music in 1995 at the five-part NCRV series "Condemned". In the years that followed Seriese toured the Netherlands and they brought some albums. In 2000 she quit her own shows, because they could no longer financially for life.  In 2006 she began bassist Wim Processed and visual artist Mieke de Haan with performances under the title Charcoal Songs . Bio ~ Trasnslate by google http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrid_Seriese

Eclipse

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Greg Skaff - Ellington Boulevard

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:32
Size: 148,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:22)  1. Baku
(7:31)  2. Rambler
(6:06)  3. Super 80
(7:13)  4. Blues For Mr. T
(6:28)  5. Delphia
(9:13)  6. Inception
(7:15)  7. Poundcake
(6:45)  8. Isfahan
(7:35)  9. Highway 54

Recording studios can be cold and uninviting places. Without the ambience of a live room and an eager audience, some artists are challenged to capture the fire and the energy that results from the feedback of a receptive group of listeners. As wonderful as many studio recordings are, they don't always succeed in portraying what the group is really about. Watching Hudson Music's video of The Peter Erskine Trio Live at Jazz Baltica versus any of the trio's ECM recordings show, for example, a very different group. The sterility of the studio doesn't appear to be problematic for guitarist Greg Skaff. Add the clink of glass, the occasional cough and the scrape of chair against floor and Ellington Boulevard is so hot, so full of life that it could easily have been recorded in a club. It combines the energy of a live recording with the greater control over sound that is possible in the recording studio the best, then, of both possible worlds.  

Ellington Boulevard , released last year as Blues for Mr. T and now reissued by ZOHO Records, pays tribute to the late Stanley Turrentine, a one-time employer of Skaff and inspiration for this set of high octane bop, soul grooves and blues. Teamed with organist Mike Le Donne and drummer Joe Farnsworth, Skaff creates a set that moves from the more complex post bop of "Baku" to the comfortable swing of "Rambler" and the light shuffle of the title track. As a guitarist, Skaff's precedence lies in Wes Montgomery and Grant Green, but by way of George Benson and Pat Martino. With a tone that is less thick, less dark than Martino's he still tends to favour rapid sixteenth-note runs and the occasional repeated phrase for emphasis. But unlike Martino Skaff settles more gently into a ballad, as he does in his bluesy reading of Freddie Hubbard's "Delphia." Still, like Martino he also favours tempo shifts within a tune, as he does on the Hubbard piece. Le Donne is equally capable of navigating the sometimes circuitous charts that Skaff chooses. 

He swings the bottom end hard on McCoy Tyner's "Inception," yet is equally capable of greasy funk on Skaff's own "Poundcake." And Farnsworth, heard recently on Eric Alexander's Dead Center , proves that the best drummers have the breadth of vision to cover everything from the tender Ellington/Strayhorn ballad "Isfahan" to Skaff's soul jazz closer, "Highway 54." But what makes this a most satisfying date is how completely committed the trio is. 

The ring of truth is loud and clear on this recording; there's not a wasted phrase, nor a note that doesn't feel like the right and only choice. Ellington Boulevard is another fine record from Skaff, who, along with Vic Juris, Dave Stryker and Richie Hart, is leading the vanguard of contemporary post bop guitarists on the New York scene. ~ John Kelman   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15322#.UofEl-Jc_vs

Personnel: Greg Skaff (guitar), Mike Le Donne (Hammond B-3 organ), Joe Farnsworth (drums)

Ellington Boulevard

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Trijntje Oosterhuis - We've Only Just Begun CD1 And CD2

Styles: Jazz Pop
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:48 (CD1)
Size: 162,4 MB (CD1)
Time: 72:24 (CD2)
Size: 173,4 MB (CD2)
Art: Front

CD 1

(3:59)  1. Somebody Else's Lover
(4:34)  2. De Zee
(3:08)  3. Walk On By
(4:23)  4. Face In The Crowd
(3:47)  5. Good Day
(2:42)  6. I Wany You Back
(4:05)  7. I'll Say Goodbye
(2:50)  8. I Say A Little Prayer
(3:58)  9. Wereld Zonder Jou
(5:59) 10. See You As I Do
(3:37) 11. Goodmorning Heartache (Live)
(4:23) 12. Let Us Be Always (Live)
(3:45) 13. Standin' Strong Together
(3:20) 14. For Once In My Life (Live)
(5:43) 15. Ken Je Mij (Live)
(3:55) 16. Free
(3:32) 17. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing

CD 2

(3:59)  1. Touch Me There
(3:59)  2. Kom Vlieg Met Me Mee
(3:13)  3. Nu Dat Jij Er Bent
(3:13)  4. Do You Know The Way To San Jose
(3:21)  5. Everything Has Changed (Imaani's Song)
(3:31)  6. Where Is The Love
(4:22)  7. One Moment Your Mind
(5:29)  8. Since We Got Back Our Power
(6:56)  9. Hifi (duet Wizards Of Ooze)
(4:06) 10. Love Me In Slowmotion
(3:59) 11. Brief Aan Jou (duet Opposites)
(6:38) 12. God Bless The Child
(5:15) 13. Fire & Rain
(3:32) 14. Music & Me
(3:50) 15. That's What Friends Are For
(3:14) 16. Ain't Who You Are
(3:39) 17. We've Only Just Begun

Trijntje Oosterhuis is one of the best pop/jazz singers from the Netherlands and she deserves a big shout out to the world. So this new compilation with the stuff she did in the last 15 years is a great way to do that. She is also known as Traincha, which makes is possible for non-native speakers to pronounce her name right to some extent.

Trijntje started out as the lead singer for the band Total Touch, which she co-founded with her brother Tjeerd Oosterhuis. Tjeerd is a skilled musician and is by now a good producer as well. This compilation contains the Total Touch singles Somebody Else's Lover, I'll Say Goodbye, Standin' Strong Together, Touch Me There, One Moment Your Mind and Love Me In Slow Motion from the two albums the band made in the 90s. The sound is kinda R&B from that decade, but the songs still are as strong as I remember them from back in those days. Strong vocals from Trijntje and her magnificent background vocalists on top of catchy songs. Good stuff.

She started singing as a solo artist by singing songs in Dutch. There's De Zee which is the 'title' song for the opening of the Amsterdam Arena, the football stadium of Ajax Amsterdam. It was followed by a duet with Marco Borsato called Wereld Zonder Jou, which would have been a great single when she could have sung it with a male vocalist who could actually sing. It still is a decent song, though. Next there is Vlieg Met Me Mee, which is the title songs for the Dutch film Abeltje, about a small boy traveling to New York and Africa in an elevator. Great song, even when Trijntje performs it nowadays. You can forget about the film, though. Very special is Ken Je Mij, which is a song Tjeerd wrote to the lyrics of father Huub Oosterhuis. The lyrics actually are a poem Huub wrote when Trijntje was born. Great song with a very emotional story. Further songs in Dutch are Nu Dat Jij Er Bent, which was recorded in honour of the birth of the Dutch crown princess Amalia van Oranje, and Brief Aan Jou for which Trijntje provided the chorus to this song of the one of the two rappers for the Dutch Opposites. All these songs prove the greatness of Trijntje’s voice as well as the fact that she should continue to record in Dutch as well.

Trijntje released a couple of solo cd’s with her own material, but is well known for her interpretations of other people’s songs as well as her jazz concerts and Blue Note recordings. She recorded cover albums with songs from Stevie Wonder (For Once In My Life), Michael Jackson (I Want You Back and Music & Me, the album was recorded as a way to express her grieve to the death of MJ), Billie Holliday (God Bless The Child) and Burt Bacherach. The last name is a bit special. Trijntje recorded an album with Bacherach covers together with The Metropole Orchestra, called The Look Of Love. Burt Bacherach heard the recording and was so impressed he wrote a new song for Trijntje, which lead to a second album with the new song Who’ll Speak For Love as the title track. Both albums show perfectly why the songs from Burt are so good and what a fantastic singer Trijntje is. One more shout out: the magnificent The Metropole Orchestra, which is the best orchestra in the world for these kinds of recordings ranging from pop and jazz (both as a full orchestra as well as the big band version) to classical. If you don’t believe me, ask the numerous artists that have recorded with them in the past, including Elvis Costello, Moke, Ivan Lins and Within Temptation. 

The compilation contains further duets with Lionel Richie (love the song, but once again should have had a better male vocalist), Frank McComb (nice song, but the weakest song from the big band album Sundays In New York), Raoul Midon (a bit dull) and Herman Brood (should have been left out here, this song does do nothing for me). To prove Trijntje is nowhere near retirement, the album includes a couple of new songs. Good Day is a nice upbeat song written by Jamie Cullum. Ain’t Who You Are shows some signs of Total Touch and Since We Got Back The Power is the kind of soul ballad Trijntje does best. So there it is, a great introduction to Trijntje. This album contains some songs that are so so, but since it is a double album it is worth every penny (or euro cent, as we say in The Netherlands). It shows Trijntje as a very versatile singer, with a unique place in the Dutch pop/jazz scene.  http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/47067/Trijntje-Oosterhuis-We%E2%80%99ve-Only-Just-Begun/

We've Only Just Begun Disc 1,Disc 2

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Ben Sidran - The Cat And The Hat

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1979
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:48
Size: 86,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Hi-Fly
(4:11)  2. Ask Me Now
(4:45)  3. Like Sonny
(4:28)  4. Give It To The Kids
(3:33)  5. Minority
(3:53)  6. Blue Daniel
(4:28)  7. Ballin' The Jack
(3:12)  8. Girl Talk
(4:14)  9. Seven Steps To Heaven

This album became the stuff of legend after the A&M Horizon label went out of busines just weeks after its release. The Steve Gadd feature on "Seven Steps to Heaven" has been transcribed and passed down to generations of drummers, and the versions of "Girl Talk" (with original lyrics to replace the Bobby Troup trops) and "Blue Daniel" (with original lyrics that became the song "Life's a Lesson") have been covered often.  http://bensidran.com/album/the-cat-and-the-hat

Ben Sidran - Piano, Vocals; Steve Gadd – Drums; Abe Laboriel – Bass;  Mike Mainieri – Vibraphone; Lee Ritenour – Guitar; Michael Brecker – Saxophone; Joe Henderson – Saxophone; Tom Harrell –Trumpet; Buzzy Feitenm – Guitar;  Luther Van Dross – Vocals;  Paulinho Da Costa – Percussion; Don Grolnick – Organ; Tom Scott – Saxophone; Pete Christlieb – Saxophone; Jim Horn – Saxophone; Jerry Hey – Trumpet;  Frank Floyd – Vocals; Mike Finnegan - Vocals

The Cat And The Hat

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Susannah McCorkle - Hearts And Minds

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 66:08
Size: 151.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Easy Listening
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[4:25] 1. I Can Dream, Can't I
[4:59] 2. Love Is Here To Stay
[4:39] 3. Love, Look Away
[4:02] 4. My Attorney Bernie
[3:14] 5. For All We Know
[4:19] 6. It Could Happen To You
[5:17] 7. Haunted Heart
[4:05] 8. What Did I Forget
[4:26] 9. Down
[5:29] 10. The Computer Age (In Motion)
[5:47] 11. Evolution
[3:14] 12. Feet Do Your Stuff
[5:26] 13. Do You Miss New York
[3:10] 14. Scars
[3:30] 15. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire

Susannah McCorkle's 16th release available through Concord begins with "I Can Dream, Can't I" and ends with "I Don't Want ro Set the World on Fire," two highly desirous songs that may reflect the intentions of the dynamic vocalist, but needless to say after 15 successful releases cannot begin to measure the tremendous impact she has had as one of the most expressive singers on the jazz scene since the mid-'70s. McCorkle utilizes two rhythm sections, her longtime musical director/arranger/pianist Allen Farnham, guitarist Paul Meyers, and tenor saxophonist Dick Oatts on straight-ahead, Brazilian-influenced and swing compositions. They span nearly 70 years say a lot about human nature and what people feel and think about. She handles humor on three Dave Frishberg songs, tackles a funny song about depression on "Down," sings of fleeting romance and contemporary relationships on "For All We Know," and "Haunted Heart" and the Ivan Lins song "Evolution." Susannah McCorkle has the remarkable capability to bring rarely heard songs back to life through updated interpretations and 21st century appeal. ~ Paula Edelstein

Recorded at Sound On Sound Studios, New York, New York from March 28-30, 2000.

Susannah McCorkle (vocals); Allen Farnham (arranger, piano); Dick Oatts (tenor saxophone); Paul Meyers (acoustic & electric guitars); Steve Gilmore, Dennis Irwin (bass); Tim Horner, Vanderlei Pereira (drums); Thiago DeMello (percussion).

Hearts And Minds

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Charlie Byrd - Blues Sonata

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 40:22

Size: 92.4 MB

Styles: Guitar jazz

Year: 1962/2001

Art: Front

[6:58] 1. Polonaise For Pour Pietro Ballad In B Minor Scherzo ..

[4:59] 2. Ballad In B Minor

[9:05] 3. Scherzo For An Old Shoe

[5:23] 4. Alexander's Ragtime Band

[4:35] 5. Jordu

[4:49] 6. That Ole Devil Called Love

[4:30] 7. Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart

Though recorded on one day, at standard length for an LP, this is really two albums in one sleeve, showcasing two rather different formats for this highly original guitarist to pursue. "The Blues Sonata" is set up in a pseudo-classical three-movement manner, with a polonaise, ballad, and scherzo, and the liner notes refer to a sonata form of development. Well, sorry, but the classical trappings, if any exist, are worn very lightly by Byrd, his bassist Keter Betts, and drummer Buddy Deppenschmidt. "Polonaise Pour Pietro" t'ain't nothin' the blues, and a very fluid blues workout at that. "Ballade in B Minor" is Chopinesque in melodic influence only, including the brush-stroked improvisation segment, and "Scherzo for an Old Shoe" sets up as a Latinish number, then stays on one chord with an Andalusian strain. On side two, the scene abruptly becomes very urbane as Byrd switches to electric guitar, takes on Barry Harris' comping, bopping piano, and engages in straightforward swinging and balladeering without any textbook definitions getting in the way. "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Jordu," and "Zing! Went the Strings on My Heart" are the merry swingers, "That Ole Devil Called Love" the relaxed ballad showcase. Whatever you call the music, the whole CD goes down easily and musically. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York, New York on October 23, 1961.

Charlie Byrd (acoustic & electric guitars); Barry Harris (piano); Keter Betts (bass); Buddy Deppenschmidt (drums).

Blues Sonata

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Indigo Swing - All Aboard!

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 45:32
Size: 104.3 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[2:43] 1. The Indigo Swing
[4:01] 2. (Today's The Day) I'm Glad I'm Not Dead
[3:11] 3. How Lucky Can One Guy Be
[3:50] 4. Blue Suit Boogie
[2:58] 5. Baron Plays The Horses
[2:54] 6. That's Where My Money Goes
[2:58] 7. Hot In Harlem
[3:25] 8. Regular Joe
[3:17] 9. What's The Matter Baby
[3:43] 10. Violent Love
[2:11] 11. The Way We Ought To Be
[2:00] 12. Drinkin' It Up
[4:08] 13. So Long!
[4:07] 14. Memory Of You

In the fin-de-siecle dance clubs, Swing is the thing. Indigo Swing is a San Francisco outfit which has been working the neo-swing circuit non-stop. Actually, '90s swing is less a recreation of Artie Shaw-era Big Band music than the proto-R&B jump bands which followed in its wake. On ALL ABOARD!, Indigo Swing mixes originals and obscure "territory" gems ("Hot In Harlem," "Violent Love") in a relaxed yet driving style that does Louis Jordan proud. Special mention should go to William Beatty's fine rockin' piano along with Johnny "The Swing Lover" Boyd's insinuatingly weaselly vocals.

Recorded at Mobius Music Recordings, San Francisco, and Capitol Records, Studio B, Hollywood, California.

Johnny Boyd (vocals); Josh Workman (guitar, background vocals); Baron Shul (tenor & baritone saxophones); William Beatty (piano, background vocals); Vance Ehlers (acoustic bass); "Big Jim" Overton (drums).

All Aboard!

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Maud Hixson - Love's Refrain

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:39
Size: 88,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:03)  1. With A Song In My Heart
(4:52)  2. There's Never Been A Day
(2:30)  3. A Ghost Of A Chance
(3:22)  4. Meet Me At No Special Place
(3:38)  5. Bad For Each Other
(4:26)  6. Here's That Rainy Day
(2:47)  7. Remind Me
(3:35)  8. Star Dust
(4:58)  9. Lotus Blossom
(3:23) 10. Lucky To Be Me

"Maud Hixson brings to these songs the casual sophistication they call for, so that they sound like what Ira Gershwin said a lyric should be “everyday conversation that happens to rhyme.” She brings out of them the wit and ingenuity the lyricists and composer used in handling the Tin Pan Alley formulas. She sings these great songs as their songwriters wanted. The song becomes not an occasion to display her gorgeously sultry voice but to inhabit the song and become the character the lyric portrays. As songwriters say, “She reads the lyric.” Her performance (and that of Rick Carlson) understated, sensuous, insouciant shows why such songs are the closest thing America has to a vital classical repertory of song."  ~ Philip Furia, author of The Poets of Tin Pan Alley: A History of America's Great Lyricists and biographies of Irving Berlin, Ira Gershwin, and Johnny Mercer.

"Maud is a wonderful singer. I like her angelic, peaceful way of portraying a song. And she has excellent taste in material. I congratulate her on her stellar CD!" ~ Meredith D’Ambrosio, jazz vocalist, musician, composer, and visual artist.

"Love's Refrain features the singer Maud Hixson, new to me. She has a calm, restrained, sweet delivery, and her enunciation is letter-perfect. Where others of her generation ornament their performances with percussion and horns, she stays out in the open, with only Rick Carlson's empathic piano as her colleague. Her time is good, her voice pleasing. And the standards she has selected are valuable a few surprises amid the monuments of Tin Pan Alley. I have often written snidely of singers who emoted through every song, who took their efforts at top volume, registering high numbers on a Jazz Richter scale. Hixson does neither of these things, and her CD is a pleasure to listen to." ~ Michael Steinman  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/maudhixson2

Love's Refrain

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Anita Wardell Quartet - Until The Stars Fade

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:16
Size: 144,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:01)  1. Get Out Of Town
(8:15)  2. Love For Sale
(8:39)  3. Make Someone Happy
(6:41)  4. Yor Are Looking At Me
(5:55)  5. I Have Never Been In Love Before
(6:52)  6. For All We Know
(5:38)  7. People Will Say We Are In Love
(6:10)  8. With A Song In My Heart
(6:20)  9. Devil May Care
(4:41) 10. My Shining Hour

Anita Wardell is one of England's best-kept secrets, but with talent like hers she won't be a secret for much longer. Possessing a natural swing and scatting ability like Kitty Margolis but with the sensuality of Julie London, Wardell is the complete jazz singer. Her sidemen are extremely gifted soloists in their own rights, and hearing this album should make North American jazz fans with the wherewithal want to hop the next plane to Ronnie Scott's when Wardell's quartet plays there the next time.

Until the Stars Fade contains only standards, but they are all performed with new interpretations that make the tunes sound as fresh as the day they were composed. The latin groove is a particularly nice touch to Bobby Troup's tragically-neglected classic "You're Looking at Me." Nothing short of amazing is the complete reharmonization of Rogers and Hammerstein's "People Will Say We're in Love." In the hands of Wardell and company the tune sounds as though it were composed by Herbie Hancock or McCoy Tyner.

Wardell also knows how to sing a torch song, and her rendition of "For All We Know" is particularly lugubrious and poignant. But when it comes to scatting, Wardell is right up there with Kurt Elling and Mark Murphy. Her performances of "Devil May Care" (most recently recorded by Diana Krall), "I've Never Been in Love Before" and "My Shining Hour" are masterpieces of vocal improvisation. Anita Wardell is an amazing talent whose artistry deserves much wider recognition. Until the Stars Fade is a flawless recording of a great jazz singer at the top of her game. ~ William Grim 
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=10746#.UoJTA-Jc_vs

Personnel: Anita Wardell, voice; Robin Aspland, piano; Jeremy Brown, bass; Gene Caldarazzo, drums; Mark Taylor, drums

Until The Stars Fade

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Keith Cooper Quartet - Hot Club & Trad Jazz

Styles: Gypsy Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:20
Size: 85,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:47)  1. Black And White
(2:15)  2. Duchess
(1:59)  3. H.C.Q. Strut
(2:20)  4. Limehouse Blues
(3:25)  5. Nuages
(2:28)  6. Shine
(2:53)  7. Sweet Georgia Brown
(2:54)  8. Swing '39
(1:49)  9. Canary Bank
(2:08) 10. The Continental
(1:47) 11. Lemon Yellow
(1:51) 12. Par 6
(2:05) 13. Roamin' In The Gloamin'
(2:06) 14. Something Tells Me (I'm Into Something Good)
(2:22) 15. When You Were Sweet Sixteen
(2:04) 16. While The Sahara Sleeps

We will appreciate any information on this artist or his album. Please put it in comments. Thank you.

Hot Club & Trad Jazz

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Todd Murray - Stardust & Swing

Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:57
Size: 98,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:24)  1. It Might As Well Be Spring
(3:38)  2. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
(3:41)  3. Moonlight Becomes You
(3:31)  4. Patricia
(3:25)  5. The Girl From Waco
(4:04)  6. If I Ruled The World (with Douglas Sills)
(3:30)  7. Time
(3:16)  8. I Wanna Be Around
(3:05)  9. Stardust
(4:38) 10. I Fall In Love Too Easily
(4:49) 11. Teach Me Tonight (with Marilyn Maye)
(1:48) 12. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

(Los Angeles – October 11, 2008) You'll snap and swoon as Todd Murray swings and croons his way through the American songbook. His latest album, “Stardust and Swing,” romances the classics from “Dream a Little Dream of Me” to “I Wanna Be Around” to the stellar “Stardust.” Recorded in Capitol Record’s famed Studio A, “Stardust and Swing” is full of lush brass and string arrangements that bring new meaning to these exciting new renditions of American standards. In addition, Murray offers up a few original pieces as well as duets with guest artists Douglas Sills and the legendary Marilyn Maye. When Murray finished his last album, “When I Sing Low,” he began compiling a list of songs that evoked an emotional response in him. “Every time I heard a song that made me feel good…no matter how many times I have heard it over the years, I wrote it down. Before I knew it, I had more than 50 songs on the list,” says Murray. “I knew then, I would like to begin working on another album.” Before he made his final list, Murray added a few new tunes as well. Murray believes “it’s important to sing and foster new songs. There are songs of today that become the American standards of tomorrow. I don’t believe ‘those were the good old days’ or that everything was better in times gone by.” In addition, the album provided the opportunity for Murray to work with two of his favorite singers Marilyn Maye and Douglas Sills.

Murray says he always admired Marilyn Maye -- particularly her classic swinging tunes like “Get Me to the Church on Time,” “Washington Square,” and “The Lamp Is Low.” “Her singing makes me feel happy….and there is an irreverence in vocal artistry. I was thrilled when she agreed to do a duet with me on the album” explains Murray. As to working with Broadway star, Douglas Sills, Murray asks: “Who wouldn’t want to sing with the best leading man on Broadway?” The only challenge was finding a duet that would highlight both Murray’s deep bass-baritone voice and the expressive, emotional quality of Sills’dramatic bari-tenor voice. According to Murray, it was a real challenge. So rather than consider traditional duets, he reinterpreted “If I Ruled The World” as a duet. His unique arrangement feels as if two people were simply talking to each other about the romantic notion of ruling the world. The result is stunningly simple yet dramatically powerful.

One of the new tunes on the album is the whimsical “Patricia.” Murray wrote the song for his friend,world-renowned chef and writer, Patricia Wells. When Wells asked Murray to sing at her birthday party,he surprised her by writing the song. Murray recalls that she was so overjoyed that her mouth was wide open through the entire song. She now concludes her world-famous cooking classes by playing the song for her students.

Garnering much praise, Murray’s debut CD, “When I Sing Low,” was chosen as one of “Talkin’ Broadway’s” Top Ten Vocal CDs of 2002. His Los Angeles Cinegrill performances were named LA Weekly’s Pick of the Month, and OUT Magazine named him on the “Hot List” for hottest cabaret singer. Murray has performed numerous solo shows, as well as at New York City and Palm Springs Cabaret Conventions at Lincol, and Townhall’s “Broadway By The Years 1935.” In addition, Todd toured for several years as the bass in John Brack’s quartet and soloist in many Zurich based concerts. Murray was part of the first Broadway tour of “The Secret Garden,” starred Off-Broadway in NYGASP’s “The Gondoliers,” and has been seen in several productions at Papermill Playhouse. Most recently, he starred in the leading role in the west coast premiere of the Irving Berlin review “The Melody Lingers On.” His rendition of “Why Not Me” can be heard in Charles Busch’s major movie release “Die Mommy, Die.”

There's no mistaking or forgetting Murray’s smooth baritone voice and heartfelt regard for every lyric. Whether it's ripping through a blazing-hot big band number like his self-penned “The Girl from Waco” or wrapping his golden cords tenderly around “I Fall in Love Too Easily,” Murray knows how to woo and wow an audience and send them away with a swing in their step.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/toddmurray2

Stardust & Swing

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Angela Galuppo - Angela Galuppo

Size: 125,2 MB
Time: 54:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Vocal Jazz
Art: Front

01. Tea For Two (4:00)
02. My One And Only Love (5:23)
03. I Only Have Eyes For You (4:48)
04. I Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer (4:31)
05. The Very Thought Of You (4:39)
06. Thank You For Being A Friend (3:53)
07. Eleanor Rigby (5:27)
08. The Only One (5:17)
09. S'wonderful (3:12)
10. I Feel For You (5:42)
11. Jesus Etc. (3:28)
12. Make Someone Happy (4:00)

Vocalist, songwriter (and actress) Angela Galuppo's debut recording under her own name (she also heads up Montreal pop/jazz ensemble St. Ange) is nothing short of sensational. What a voice! She makes each note count - drawing inspiration from her early idols, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O'Day and Sarah Vaughn - but Galuppo's style and phrasing are entirely her own. Backed by a stellar band the recording is beautifully arranged "It's a jazz recording with tunes you wouldn't necessarily associate with jazz." Think Black Keys. Think Prince. "The album as a whole is moody, romantic, tender, intimate, lush and soothing," says Galuppo, "as an artist and a human being, I'm constantly evolving and changing, and learning about myself."

Welcome to the next chapter in the evolution of Angela Galuppo!!

Angela Galuppo

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Najee - The Morning After: A Musical Love Journey

Size: 125,7 MB
Time: 54:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Smooth Jazz, Sax Jazz
Art: Front

01. Anticipation (0:23)
02. Rendezvous (5:01)
03. San Tropez (5:20)
04. In The Mood To Take It Slow (4:51)
05. Paseo Nuevo (5:41)
06. Champs Elysees (6:44)
07. Mafalala (4:20)
08. Trip To The Moon (5:12)
09. The Morning After (5:37)
10. Shinjuku (In Memory Of George Duke) (3:18)
11. W 72 And Broadway (8:05)

The latest album from Najee is titled The Morning After - A Musical Love Journey. It is filled with music that shows his versatility and it is a gem. He wrote or co-wrote seven of the 11 tracks on the CD. Demonte Posey was the other writer. Najee is the consummate musician as he plays tenor sax, soprano sax and flute on the album flawlessly.

He is backed by some of the best musicians anywhere. In addition to song writing on this project, Demonte Posey also plays keyboards. Bill Sharpe plays bass, Ray Fuller is on guitar, Daniel Powell is on drums, Lee Thornburg is on trumpet and flugelhorn, Nick Lane is on trombone, Brian Bromberg is on bass/acoustic bass and Nick Smith is on piano. The lead vocals are provided by Meli'sa Morgan who really does a splendid job on the romantic song In the Mood To Take It Slow.

Najee pays tribute to the late George Duke with the song Shinjuku. It is a song that brought memories of Japan and other places the two had performed together. Some of the other notable songs include: Rendezvous, SanTropez, Champs Elysees and the bluesy and sultry The Morning After. Najee has worked with some of the best in recorded music including: Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Chaka Khan among others. He usually delivers a good product and this album is no exception. The Morning After - A Musical Love Journey may be one of his very best and that is saying a lot.

The Morning After

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Count Basie & The Atomic Band - In A Mellotone

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 51:21

Size: 117.6 MB

Styles: Big band

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[5:15] 1. Shiny Stockings

[2:37] 2. H.R.H. (Her Royal Highness)

[2:38] 3. Bag-A-Bones

[6:11] 4. In A Mellow Tone

[9:14] 5. The Midgets

[4:08] 6. Whirlybird

[2:48] 7. Basie Boogie

[6:16] 8. The Deacon

[4:08] 9. Cute

[8:00] 10. Ol' Man River

William ‘Count’ Basie was a man who, in his life time led two magnificent bands. The first began its existence as the Barons of Rhythm in 1935. His former leader, Bennie Moten, had died in that year and, using some of his sidemen. Basie had formed his own band in partnership with altoist Buster Smith.

At first it was a pretty ragged band, but Basie strengthened his line-up and, when the band made its New York recording debut in the following year it boasted such luminaries as trumpeter Buck Clayton, saxophonists Lester Young and Herschel Evans, vocalist Jimmy Rushing and a rhythm team of bassist Walter Page and drummer Jo Jones. They were joined by guitarist Freddie Green and this completed what became known as the All-American Rhythm Section.

Basie continued to lead his own orchestra until January 1950. In the next couple of years he fronted a particularly interesting octet but could not resist the sound of a big band at his back and. in 1952, reformed the orchestra. Miraculously, The Atomic Band was achieved with no loss in swing power: if anything, Basie's phenomenal instrument of a band swung even more than its predecessors.

Recording information: Kongresshaus, Zurich (02/03/1959); Theatre Beaulier, Lausanne (02/03/1959); Kongresshaus, Zurich (02/06/1959); Theatre Beaulier, Lausanne (02/06/1959).

Count Basie (piano); Freddie Green (guitar); Charlie Fowlkes (flute, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Frank Wess (flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Marshall Royal (clarinet, alto saxophone); Frank Foster, Billy Mitchell (tenor saxophone); Joe Newman, Snooky Young, Thad Jones, Wendell Culley (trumpet); Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell (trombone); Sonny Payne (drums).

In A Mellotone

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Saskia Bruin - Step Inside Love

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 50:19
Size: 115.2 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:56] 1. The Look Of Love
[3:57] 2. And We Will Fly
[4:23] 3. Once I Loved
[3:01] 4. Feel Like Making Love
[3:16] 5. Step Inside Love
[3:47] 6. Wondering
[4:07] 7. You're My Thrill
[3:41] 8. Virginia Moon
[3:32] 9. I Got Lost In His Arms
[4:32] 10. Comes Love
[4:24] 11. Estate
[3:22] 12. Close Your Eyes
[4:15] 13. Carminhos Cruzados

Saskia’s new release includes the talents of Chris Ingham on Piano, Andrew J. Brown on Bass, Russell Morgan on Drums, Colin Watling on Soprano Sax, Phil Brooke and Andy Watson on Guitar and Heinz Hunt on Tenor Sax.

Born in Holland, Saskia Bruin has been living in the UK since 1987. Studying saxophone, jazz voice and jazz piano, she graduated with a music degree in 1995 and since has been active on the East Anglian gig scene. She has also enchanted audiences in California, Switzerland and Holland. Inspired by the seductive latin sounds of Eliane Elias, Bebel Gilberto and the alluring atmosphere of cool jazz, Saskia formed her own quintet in 2004 to play the great 20th century standards from Gershwin to Jobim, and has recently been incorporating her own original material.

Her debut album The Day Is Done, recorded in summer 2005, received a warm reception including Radio 2 airplay (Desmond Carrington BBC Radio 2, David Jacobs BBC Radio 2 and London’s newest radio station 102.2 Smooth FM).

Step Inside Love

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Jeff Hamilton - Swing That Music

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 74:23

Size: 170.3 MB

Styles: Swing, Big band

Year: 2007

Art: Front

[4:53] 1. What'll It Be?

[5:11] 2. Ring 'dem Bells

[4:12] 3. Sweet And Lovely

[6:58] 4. No Moon At All

[4:23] 5. What Is This Thing Called Love?

[4:42] 6. Three Little Words

[3:09] 7. The Moon Was Yellow

[5:23] 8. I Double Dare You

[4:23] 9. Corcovado

[3:43] 10. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

[4:35] 11. I Would Do Anything For You

[4:07] 12. It Don't Mean A Thing

[4:41] 13. Caldonia

[6:17] 14. Tea For Two

[3:37] 15. Our Serenade

[4:03] 16. Swing That Music

How fortunate I am, to play and record with close friends who are also my musical heroes! Dan Barrett, a consummate musician and close friend since our high school years, has always not only inspired me, but encouraged me to honor whatever talent I have, by giving it due self-effort. What better company to keep?. And I could not have had these results without his beautiful lyrical arrangements, and his help running the session. Thank You Dan.

The rest of my "chosen gang" is equally exciting to me. Technically, rhythmically and in imagination, Harry Allen is multi-dimensionally amazing! Randy Reinhart is a true professional, with exciting inspiration and leadership. Bryan Shaw somehow uses both sides of his gray matter with remarkable talent! Recording, and playing at the same time is, to me, like painting a masterpiece while taking dictation! How do you do that!?. Joel Forbes is the acoustic musician that any drummer should beg for. Besides Eddie Erickson's sensitive rhythmic vitality on guitar, I can think of no other musician who is more "a natural." His vocals are, well! just, "right." Dave Frishberg reminds me of a volcano, spewing forth truth, joy, inspiration, and the most valuable, amazing musical surprises! As a piano hobbyist, I hope that one day I will be able to "get out of the way" like Dave does, so that Music can surprise me as well! Rebecca Kilgore captures me with her love and her dedication to this music. She is the rare vocalist who imparts not only the most beautiful melodies, but also her joy in singing them. Oh yeah!and what a voice!

Randy Reinhart (cornet, trombone) ; Bryan Shaw (trumpet); Dan Barrett (trombone, cornet, valve trombone); Harry Allen (tenor sax); Dave Frishberg (piano); Eddie Erickson (guitar, vocals); Joel Forbes (bass); Jeff Hamilton (drums); Rebecca Kilgore (vocals).

Swing That Music 

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Tamba Trio - Pure Bossa Nova

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 36:49
Size: 84.3 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[2:18] 1. O Samba Da Minha Terra
[2:51] 2. Moca Flor
[2:18] 3. Consolacao
[2:24] 4. Influencia Do Jazz
[2:25] 5. So Danco O Samba
[3:01] 6. Quem Quiser Encontrar O Amor
[3:49] 7. O Amor Em Paz
[2:07] 8. So Tinha De Ser Com Voce
[3:29] 9. Sonho De Maria
[3:15] 10. Boranda
[1:35] 11. Samba De Uma Nota So
[2:01] 12. Batida Diferente
[2:26] 13. O Amor Que Acabou
[2:41] 14. Mas Que Nada

No one can argue that this collection of cuts by Brazil's Tamba Trio isn't a welcome one. It contains 14 tracks from albums recorded between 1962 and 1964, when the group was riding high in its native country and breaking through in Europe, Japan, and the United States (the latter to a lesser agree). The Tamba Trio featured pianist Luizinho Eça, bassist Bebeto (born Adalberto Castilho), and drummer Helcio Milito, who brought the music of their countrymen to the wide open ears of the world, whose listeners got behind the amazing combination of musicianship and three-part harmony that became this group's trademark. Eça is one of the most innovative pianists his country ever produced. He was schooled in classical music but was also a jazz pianist of astonishing vision, lyricism, and technical acumen. All three men did time singing with others and playing in various groups in Brazil until they began to rearrange the bossa nova for their particularly soulful, sophisticated, and swinging take. This volume assembles cuts from their early albums, especially the singles. There's Dori Caymmi's "O Samba da Minha Terra," Baden Powell and Vinícius de Moraes' "Consolação," and Edú Lobo's "Borandá," as well as tunes by Antonio Carlos Jobim with de Moraes ("Só Danço Samba") and Aloysio de Oliveira ("Só Tinha de Ser Com Você") and Newton Mendonça ("Samba de uma Nota Só"), as well as a young Marcos Valle with the truly classic "Sonho de Maria," written with Paulo Sergio. But it isn't just the tunes, all of which had been -- or would be -- covered by virtually everyone else on the Brazilian scene; it's the deep integration of hardcore swinging jazz, which was more rhythmically intense than what the Americans were doing.

Check the live version of "Só Tihna de Ser Com Você" -- which has its roots in the sounds of both Erroll Garner and Teddy Wilson, and with its extrapolated vocal harmonies (all done in a live setting in front of an audience), with dynamics that shift time signatures in the middle of phrases -- and you get an idea just how wild and new this stuff was, and in many ways remains. It is not a stretch to hear the roots of the less wily experiments of Gilberto Gil or even Valle here, and one can even make links in the chain to the compositional and arrangement methods employed by Os Mutantes early on (despite the music begin radically different). This music is dressed occasionally with flutes or saxophones, but nothing keeps the attention away from the shifting, gently insistent rhythmic invention that is countered by the stretched three-part harmony that keeps itself firmly in the tenor and higher baritone ranges (check "O Amor Em Paz"). The album's final cut is, of course, the biggest single that the band laid down, in Jorge Ben's "Mas Que Nada," with an arrangement they extrapolated on for 1964's "Borandá" by Edú Lobo. One can hear the roots of groups such as Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 here, but this is more driving, more intoxicating, and -- truth be told -- more elegant without reining its elusive spirit down in an American recording studio. While the recording quality is fine, its transfer isn't perfect here, but that's beside the point. This collection is necessary because it is the only one listeners have.

Universal and its many labels are far more interested in collections and reissues than actual new releases these days, and they should deeply consider releasing the group's actual titles -- including the ones made in the late '60s with a different rhythm section as the Tamba 4, and those wonderfully early electronic samba records made by Eça in the early '70s. This is brilliant work, without a weak cut in the set, but it still only whets the appetite for more Tamba. ~Thom Jurek

Pure Bossa Nova

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Helen Theophanous - Amici

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:45
Size: 114,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:18)  1. Dancing On the Ceiling
(5:23)  2. With Every Breath I Take
(5:32)  3. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
(4:49)  4. How Deep Is Your Love
(5:21)  5. The More I See You
(4:20)  6. April in Paris
(5:36)  7. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance
(4:13)  8. Give Me the Simple Life
(4:13)  9. There's a Lull in My Life
(5:54) 10. My One and Only Love

Following her last sell-out show, Helen returns, this time with acclaimed saxophonist Renato D’Aiello and his quartet with exciting arrangements of jazz standards from their album “Amici”- songs by Jimmy Van Heusen, Rodgers and Hart, Harry Warren, Vernon Duke, Mack Gordon, Cy Coleman the BeeGees and more.. Great songs, a great band and great jazz guaranteed! Helen Theophanous has a background in classical, show and jazz songs, but jazz is her first choice. She has performed with many leading jazz musicians, most recently appearing regularly as featured singer at Ronnie’s Bar with the Renato D’Aiello quartet. An album “Amici” is due to be released this Autumn, with Renato’s inspired arrangements perfectly complementing Helen’s rich tones in songs by Jimmy Van Heusen, Mack Gordon, Cy Coleman ,Guy Wood and many more.

Claire Martin OBE said of Helen  “Stunning……classy…..”.
“Renato is a saxophonist with a passionate and poetic soul. He has all the virtues-a beautiful sense of time and pacing and a technique which effortlessly projects his brilliantly flowing ideas”  Ian Carr, Jazz Writer (Miles Davis Biographer).   http://londonjazz.net/ai1ec_event/helen-theophanous-amici-with-the-renato-daiello-quartet/?instance_id=

Amici

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Kevin Dozier - Love's Never Lost

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:55
Size: 114,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:56)  1. If Ever I Would Leave You
(2:51)  2. Take Me To The World
(4:30)  3. Wonderful! Wonderful!
(4:39)  4. Falling Out Of Love
(2:40)  5. Almost
(3:09)  6. Always/Time Heals Everything
(2:31)  7. Sail Away
(3:00)  8. Love's Never Lost
(4:09)  9. Perfect
(4:21) 10. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
(2:41) 11. Hold To My Hand
(3:05) 12. What A Funny Boy He Is
(2:47) 13. I'll Tell The Man In The Street
(2:38) 14. I Hear Bells
(3:54) 15. The Journey

Kevin Dozier kicks off 2013 with the release of his album, “Love’s Never Lost". This collection marks his second major album release following the 2009 award-winning “Love-Wise”. Kevin was awarded the MAC and Backstage Bistro Awards for ‘Outstanding Vocalist’ in 2011. Most recently, Kevin made his acclaimed debut at 'Feinstein's' in NYC, was a featured performer at 'Jazz at Lincoln Center', 'The National Arts Club', and numerous 'Noel Coward Society' functions. He’s had sold-out runs at 'The Metropolitan Room', 'The Laurie Beechman Theatre', and 'Don't Tell Mama's' in NYC, and 'The Plush Room' and 'San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center' in San Francisco. Kevin's highly acclaimed debut album, "Love-Wise", is available on Itunes. "Love-Wise" made many of 2009's top album lists including Broadwayworld.com's Top 10 Vocal Albums of 2009 and WHLI radio’s Top 50 of 2009. 

Produced and arranged by Christopher Marlowe (arranger and musical director for Nancy Lamott), the album features love songs from the Great American Songbook. Kevin will be releasing his second album, produced by Paul Rolnick, with arrangements and musical direction by Alex Rybeck, on Feb 11, 2013 at The Metropolitan Room.  Kevin was born in Kentucky and grew up in Minnesota, Missouri, and Kansas. He proudly returned to New York City in 2005, after 10 years in San Francisco, where he was named "Male Cabaret Performer of the Year" in the San Francisco Cabaret Competition. He made his critically acclaimed NYC cabaret debut at 'Don't Tell Mama' in June of 2008, followed by several successful runs at 'The Metropolitan Room'. These performances garnered him a MAC Award nomination in 2009 for Best Male Debut Performance. Kevin worked professionally as a studio-singer for many years in Kansas City, MO. He has studied with Marilyn Maye, Gene Puerling, Marianne Challis, Scott Barnes, Jackie Presti, Richard Nickol, Kirby Shaw, Phil Mattson, Steve Zegree, and Bill Grace.
Kevin has worked as an executive with numerous Retail companies including Sephora, Williams-Sonoma, and Barnes & Noble. Currently he is a Senior Executive with Reed Krakoff, a division of Coach.   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kevindozier2

 

Love's Never Lost

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Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio - What A Wonderful World

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:56
Size: 128,1 MB
Art: Front + Back

(4:29)  1. Tea For Two
(2:59)  2. Cleopatra's Dream
(5:33)  3. Blues Of You
(5:51)  4. What A Wonderful World
(8:48)  5. Poinciana
(3:48)  6. Nanatsu No Ko
(6:29)  7. Caravan
(4:03)  8. Home On The Range
(3:00)  9. Like It Is
(5:15) 10. Speak Low
(4:07) 11. Tsuki No Sabaku
(1:28) 12. Little Blues

Since his stunning debut in 1974 with the now world-famous audiophile recordings for the Three Blind Mice label, Japanese pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto has built a career that now spans four decades. His brand-new trio album What A Wonderful World follows his previous release Gentle Blues , his first recording for Venus Records in 14 years. In fact, the 12 tracks in this CD were recorded on the day after 10 tracks on Gentle Blues were recorded. It is remarkable that Yamamoto and his trio recorded enough materials for two CDs in two consecutive days, but then again, he is a veteran pianist who doesn't like to repeat himself and prefers to record everything in a single take. This CD even contains several tunes that were included in the previous one, but they are justified as they are significantly different in terms of musical approach and presentation. The last three tracks are bonus tracks in which Yamamoto plays Fender Rhodes. As per the high standard set by Venus, the sound quality of this CD is also excellent with its signature heavy, gutsy sound. Recommended!  

http://www.eastwindimport.com/product-info.asp?CategoryName=Featured+Products&ProductID=2128

Personnel : Tsuyoshi Yamamoto (electric piano,piano); Hiroshi Kagawa (bass); Toshio Osumi (drums)

What A Wonderful World

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